PLUM PRUNING TIME!

Hello, - now really is your last chance to get your stone fruit trees pruned before they shut down for winter.
Ideally, they should have been pruned at the end of August - or as soon as the last fruit has been picked - but there is still just about time. The critical thing is that the tree still has leaves on it - and is still actively working so can heal the pruning cuts before the bad weather. It is worth bearing in mind that plums,gages and damsons crop perfectly well without pruning - but the crop is better when the branches are thinned out - as with other fruits -the best crop occurs on 2 year-old wood - and at the base of 1 year-old stuff - so a thin-out will promote the new growth.
I did my trees last weekend - and I suppose that over half the foliage has gone - but the cuts do heal in the warm sun - and the tree will bear better fruit next year as a result.

There still remain a lot of brown mummified fruit on people's plum trees - a left-over of brown rotted fruit from early on in the summer - this must be removed - not left on the tree - otherwise it will cause re-infection next year. The other final thing I do with my plums is to rake up and dispose of the old leaves as they fall - they are frequently smothered in rust - and will simply cause problems next year.

There now - my plum trees are ready for winter - but luckily my freezer is full of Czar and Victorias - so I can still enjoy the fruit of the summer in pies for a long time yet!!
Until next time,
RICHARD